Chapter 70: Pet?
Fubuki paid the expensive taxi fare.
Aokiji happened to walk out.
"You took a taxi?"
"My sister doesn't need transportation, and I haven't been far from home before, so I didn't buy a car."
Aokiji thought about it and agreed.
When he traveled long distances before, he always used his privilege to have the association send a plane.
Now that he could fly, he could go wherever he wanted.
Tatsumaki naturally wouldn't consider these things.
"But now, as a Pro Hero, having a high-speed mobile vehicle is indeed more convenient," Fubuki mused.
"There's a research institute that takes on all sorts of strange orders, and their technological level is pretty good. You can consider placing an order there."
Aokiji sent her the official website link for Child Emperor's Cram School.
Fubuki opened it and fell silent.
The website interface style was childish with a hint of forced maturity.
If it were a cute pet website or a children's competition voting site, it would be a perfect fit.
But wasn't this the official website of a research institute?!
Is it really a legitimate research institute?
"It's a research institute founded by a few Genius kids, so it's normal for it to be a bit childish. If you want to place an order, remember to provide detailed requirements, otherwise it might end up looking like a child's drawing."
The two chatted as they walked.
Passing through Old Town, residents enthusiastically greeted them.
Unlike fans in other places who were terrifyingly crazy, the people here were more like the lively and friendly neighbors Aokiji remembered from his childhood.
Here, the people were more like the lively and friendly neighbors Aokiji remembered from his childhood.
On the way, they encountered the corpse of a Monster that had been smashed to pieces.
From the marks, Aokiji guessed it was Saitama's doing.
The words 'dead fish eyes', 'cape', 'spiky hair', and so on, exchanged by the curious onlookers by the roadside, further corroborated this.
Saitama was nowhere to be seen nearby.
He was either fighting Monsters elsewhere or going to a supermarket sale.
Speaking of which, Saitama had only joined the association a few days ago, but his popularity was already quite high.
Just the Monster attack during the Z-City hero recruitment event alone.
Saitama and Mumen Rider, who were the first to step forward, had already gained a lot of attention and recognition.
It seemed that the discussion about their hero names was also nearing a conclusion.
On the other hand, Aokiji.
His fan base was huge, and the debate over his hero name had been constant.
Now, with a new form appearing, all previous names had become outdated and invalid.
They entered the uninhabited zone.
This was several streets away from the villa where Mosquito Girl lived.
Aokiji warned her not to wander around aimlessly.
"Are there really Monsters here?"
Fubuki surveyed the quiet, desolate buildings around her.
Only a faint wind could be heard.
There was no other sound.
"They're all underground." Aokiji's right hand produced both ice crystals and Dragon scales. "Stay back, I'll clear a path."
Fubuki obediently complied, jogging while holding her fitted dress.
Boom————!!!
——Underground——
As leaders of races symbolizing certain aspects of nature.
The various Kings had a mysterious connection.
In the spacious cavern.
The Subterranean King sat on a stone throne, with dark blue energy patterns flowing over his body, and four dark red swords placed on either side.
"The Sky King and the Deep Sea King... are both gone."
Hearing the Subterranean King's definitive words.
Below the stone throne and in the holes of the surrounding rock walls, a large number of Underground Race members openly expressed their excitement.
"Since that's the case, the surface will be entirely occupied by us, the Underground Race!"
"That's right!"
"With two fewer competing races, our Underground Race will surely usher in unprecedented prosperity!"
"King! Give the order! Attack the surface and annihilate humanity!"
...Watching his excited and noisy tribesmen, the Subterranean King couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
But after pondering for a long time.
His four arms patted the stone throne. The movement wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the vast cavern.
"Given the strength of the Sky King and the Deep Sea King, for them to be successively annihilated in such a short time, it's definitely not an accident."
"The weak surface dwellers are absolutely no match for us Kings. The secrets behind this need to be investigated."
The Underground Race members looked at each other, pondering.
They couldn't really see anything; it was too dark underground.
Because of this, the Underground Race members also looked grotesque, with no two having eyes or mouths in the same place.
"The King is right!"
"It's time to investigate. Should we capture a few surface dwellers?"
"A few aren't enough, are they? We can capture more, and use the others as slaves."
"King! Choose me to investigate the surface!"
"Me too! I want to go too!"
"Quiet——"
The Subterranean King raised his hand to signal.
Then he stated his consideration:
"Surface society has many class divisions; capturing low-level individuals won't yield useful information."
"The target should be high-ranking individuals in surface society..."
Boom————!!!
The rock wall above the cavern violently exploded and collapsed!
Countless huge, heavy rocks, accompanied by dust, slowly fell!
A large number of Underground Race members, unable to react in time, were crushed into a pulp by the enormous falling rocks.
Instant panic and wailing ensued.
Conversation emanated from the shattered hole above.
"Fubuki, am I considered high-ranking?"
"...Considering both strength and social status, there's no doubt."
"That's good."
Thump—thump—
Two figures descended.
The rare sunlight from deep underground shone through the violently broken hole above.
Dust and rock powder drifted and swirled in the dazzling light.
It also enveloped a beautiful, aloof female surface dweller, and a tall, lazy... Dragon-human radiating powerful aura?
"Yo, the high-ranking individuals you wanted are here. As a greeting gift, it's not too much to ask for a figurine, right?"
Glaciers grew from beneath Aokiji's feet.
They sealed all the passages leading to other underground spaces within this vast cavern, and the rock walls were covered with unshakeable solid ice.
"The, the surface dwellers have broken in!!"
"Impossible! This is deep underground! Mere surface dwellers—!!"
"But those are surface dwellers! Is that powerful Monster next to her a pet she tamed?!"
The Underground Race was in a panic.
Amidst the panicked shouts, confused guesses emerged.
"Well, well." Aokiji turned his head to Fubuki. "I've become your pet."
"These Monsters...!!"
Fubuki gritted her teeth, embarrassed and shy.
Either surrender or fight, why say such strange things!
Moreover, from a strength perspective, there's no way Aokiji could be her pet!
The other way around almost... No! What am I thinking!
It's all these damn Monsters' fault!!
"Hell Storm——!!"
Fubuki angrily unleashed her Psychic Power.
Large scattered, sharp rocks became the best weapons, hurtling like a storm towards the Underground Race in that direction!
The attack swept down like dense raindrops!
"King——!" the Underground Race members shouted in panic.
A figure flashed before them.
Boom boom boom——
Dark red and dark blue flickered within the shattered rock storm.
"My tribesmen, thank you for your care."
The Subterranean King's four arms each held a dark red one-handed sword, like flowing magma.
The Underground Race members he protected were thrilled.
"King——!"
"Step back, I will handle the enemy."
"No! Watch out behind you!!"
A Dragon claw, covered in a layer of ice, naturally rested on the Subterranean King's shoulder.
An irresistible, terrifying force clamped down on all of the Subterranean King's movements!
"Raise your hands high; the pose will look cooler once you're frozen."